CHALLENGE 1

CHALLENGE 1 (GRADES 3-4) INFORMATION

Loudoun Soccer is pleased to offer enrollment in a Challenge division for 3rdand 4thgrade players. The Challenge 1 division is a recreational program, intended for those children more seriously focused on soccer, and for players (and parents) who are willing to make a stronger commitment to prioritizing development above the social aspects of youth soccer.

This program is NOT recommended for the new or inexperienced soccer player.

The primary differences between the Recreation and Challenge divisions are the level of play and the distances to travel for away games. Coaches for Challenge teams are volunteers.

To be eligible for Challenge, each player must register before the deadline of January 22, 2019. Players who participated in Challenge in the Fall 2018 season SHOULD NOT attend a Winter evaluation. Players who did not participate in the Fall 2018 Challenge season must attend one evaluation (including those who played Challenge in Spring 2018).

No late registrations are permitted in Challenge, due to the evaluation dates, and to allow for the appropriate time to form teams and assign coaches. The purpose of the evaluation session is to assess each player’s abilities so that balanced teams may be formed within each Town of Play (Ashburn, Leesburg, Purcellville, and South Riding). The Recreation division may still be available for players who sign up after the Challenge registration date (registration is first come, first serve).

Players who did not participate in the Fall 2018 season in Challenge are REQUIRED to undergo a skills evaluation. The information obtained at this evaluation will be used to place players evenly among the teams within each Town of Play.

Players MUST register in the nearest Town of Play as to their home address.

The level of play in Challenge is typically higher than in Recreation; however, players are placed on balanced teams within each town of play and are not turned away regardless of ability if there is room on a team.

No Special Requests (for specific coaches, teammates, etc.) will be honored. Once placed, requests to be reassigned to a different Challenge team will NOT be accommodated. Any player who wishes to change teams after being placed may be re-assigned to a Recreational level team, depending on available space.

Teams will be formed by town/region (Ashburn, Leesburg, Purcellville, and South Riding) and all efforts will be made to place players on a team in their local town; if teams in the local town of play are full, a player may be placed on a team outside of their requested town of play.

Teams are scheduled to play inter-regional games (Ashburn vs. Leesburg, South Riding vs. Purcellville, etc.), which may require travel greater than in the regular Recreation level.

Players who wish to participate in the Challenge division must first register (registration deadline: January 22, 2019 at 8 PM); during the registration process, families of players required to attend an evaluation can select one of the following Evaluation dates for their child to attend:

Girls:

Evaluation Date #1: Saturday January 26 at Loudoun Soccer Park

Location: Loudoun Soccer Park (19798 Sycolin Rd, Leesburg VA 20175)

Tentative schedule:

12-1 PM: Grades 3-4 Girls

1:15-2:15 PM: Grades 3-4 Boys

Evaluation Date #2: Saturday February 16 at TBA

Location: TBA (area high school)

Tentative schedule:

12-1 PM: Grades 3-4 Girls

1:15-2:15 PM: Grades 3-4 Boys

Players should arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled start time to check-in. All players should wear weather-appropriate clothing and shin-guards, and should bring water and a properly inflated size 4 soccer ball.

Following the evaluation, all efforts will be made to place players on balanced teams by town-of-play. Team rosters will be available around March 15.